Adjustable spray nozzle assembly



Oct. 23, 1962 E. UMBRICHT ET AL 3,059,861

ADJUSTABLE SPRAY NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed Oct. 18, 1954 Fig.

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EMIL UMBRICHT y DEWEY EVANS ATTORNEYS Patented Get. 23, 1962 free - 3,059,861 ADJUSTABLE SPRAY NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Emil Umbricht, Jackson, and Dewey Evans, Belleville, Mich, assignors to Ajem Laboratories, Detroit, Mich. Original application Oct. 18, 1954, Ser. No. 462,726, now Patent No. 2,926,674, dated Mar. 1, 1960. Divided and this application Aug. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 765,014

2 Claims. ((11. 239-518) The present invention relates to an adjustable spray nozzle assembly for use in power washing apparatus adapted for industrial applications for cleaning various manufactured articles. This invention is described as embodied in a machine for high-pressure washing, rinsing and drying of metal parts, for example, such as crankshafts and camshafts of internal combustion engines.

In many mass-producing type industrial applications involving the fabrication of complicated machined parts and assemblies, it is necessary at one or more points in the production schedule to remove the various soils which adhere to the surfaces of the articles and accumulate as a result of the previous manufacturing and fabrication steps. The adjustable spray nozzle assembly of the present invention is advantageous for use in these applications for adjustably directing suitable washing and rinsing sprays onto the articles being cleaned.

The adjustable spray nozzle apparatus described herein is particularly well suited for the cleaning of crankshafts, camshafts and the like, and of many other types of parts having bearing surfaces or other complex surfaces or cavities which must be thoroughly cleaned. It is important that bearing surfaces and all other portions of the parts be thoroughly cleaned of all soils to prevent damage when the parts are assembled and run. The thorough cleaning of close tolerance parts enables their dimensions to be tested with precision. In many cases, the presence of soils on these precision parts causes erroneous readings of their dimensions, resulting in the rejection of parts which do not actually lie outside of the permissible tolerance range, or vice versa.

Among the many advantages of the present invention a.e those resulting from the fact that the adjustable spray nozzle apparatus conveniently enable the high-pressure washing and rinsing jets to be directed at predetermined angles. The article to be washed is held for a brief period at every station, with particular areas of the article arranged to intercept certain ones of these jets at each station at the angle which produces maximum cleaning action by the impinging streams. Thus, quick, complete cleaning of selected areas of the article is obtained at each station and the article can be advanced rapidly from station to station.

As a result, a large number of articles can be cleaned in a short period. Moreover, because of the efiiciency of the cleaning operation as described, the apparatus is compact and lends itself to efficient mass production operations.

The various aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a machine for washing fabricated parts, such as crank shafts, and utilizing the adjustable spray nozzle assemblies of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the adjustable high-pressure spray nozzles used in the washing and rinsing stations of the machine in FIGURE 1.

This application is a division of prior copending application Serial No. 462,726, filed October 18, 1954, now Patent Number 2,926,674.

In the machine it) shown in FIGURE 1, the crankshafts 12 to be cleaned are transferred in sequence through the machine on pairs of holding jigs 14 which are arranged near opposite sides of a continuous conveyor so as to support the crankshafts horizontally and extending across the conveyor from side to side, as seen in FIGURE 1. This conveyor 16 comprises a pair of spaced parallel chains 18 with a plurality of removable frames extending between the chains at every fourth link, each frame including a cross bar 22 with one of the holding jigs 14- on the top side near each end, as described in detail below.

At the bottom and extending off to one side (see also FIGURE 1) of the washing stage 28 is a tank 38 holding washing liquid, indicated at 41 This solution is sucked into the bottom of a two-stage centrifugal pump 41 and forced out of the upper stage 42 at extremely high pressure through pipes 43 and a pair of manifolds 44 extending along parallel to the chains 18. Connected to the manifolds 44 are a plurality of transverse pipes 46, some extending across the machine above the conveyor 16 and others below the conveyor. Each of these transverse pipes 46 includes several openings over each of which are clamped adjustable spray nozzles 48 and jet nozzles 5t described in detail hereinafter. These nozzles 4-3 and 50 are arranged to direct a high speed spray or stream, respectively, of washing solution at various predetermined areas of each crankshaft, as they pause in each station. The pump 41 is supported by a bracket 52 from the top 53 of the side extension of the tank. The pump has a vertical shaft 54 extending up in a housing 56 through a bearing 58 to sheaves 6t) driven by V-belts from a suitable electric motor 62. A suitable high pressure twostage centrifugal pump for use in the machine 10 is described in detail and claimed in the copending application, Serial No. 462,661, filed October 18, 1954, and now issued as Patent No. 2,873,685, granted February 17, 1959.

As indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the adjustable nozzles 48 are aimed at various specific areas of the crankshaft. A pair of these nozzles 64 and 66 are aimed at opposite ends of the crankshaft to squirt streams of washing solution into the passages in the interior of the crankshaft, to thoroughly clean it. Thus, advantageously, every facet of the crankshaft receives in turn a thorough high pressure washing with the washing solution in each case impinging on the various crankshaft surfaces at the optimum cleaning angles, enabling the cleansing to be done in a brief time.

As shown in FIGURE 1, as the chains 13 pass through the machine 10 they are supported by tracks 143 formed by angle irons extending longitudinally through the machine 10. The ends of these tracks 143 extend out near the large sprockets 24 and 26 at each end.

In FIGURE 2 is shown, on considerably enlarged scale, a cross-sectional view of one of the adjustable spray nozzles 48 clamped in position on a pipe 46, shown in cross section. A large hole is drilled in the pipe 46 and arranged to face in the general direction toward which the spray or stream of high speed fiuid is intended to go.

The adjustable nozzle includes a generally C-shaped clamp having one end 152 with a surface broad enough to cover the hole 156. A smaller orifice 154 extends through the end 152 of the clamp and is over the larger hole 150 in the pipe 46. The opposite end 155 of the C-shaped clamp has an adjustable clamping bolt 156. The stream of fluid issuing from the small orifice 154 passes a bullet-shaped director 158 supported by arms 169 from the end 152 and advantageously is broken into a high-speed spray.

The adjustable nozzles 56 are generally similar to the adjustable nozzles 48 except that in place of the orifice 154 and the director 158, a small pipe (as shown in FIGURE 1) is secured to the arm 152. The inside diameter of this pipe is smaller than the diameter of the hole 159 in the pipe 46 to enable the angular adjustment of the nozzles 56 over a considerable angular range.

It will be understood that liquid level controls may be used in the tanks and that steam or electric units may be used for heating the wash and rinse liquids. Also, sludge removal apparatus and access openings (not shown) into the tanks are provided to enable their cleaning.

The positioned washing, rinsing, and drying which is obtained by the method and apparatus described is highly advantageous for any interference between the various liquid streams is avoided so that each stream at each station acts at maximum efficiency in cleaning and drying the assigned area of the article being cleaned.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the power washing method and apparatus of the present invention are well adapted to provide the many advantages discussed above, and that they can be adapted to a wide variety of industrial washing and cleansing operations and that various changes or modifications may be made therein, each as may be best suited to a particular application, and that the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims, is intended to include such modifications or adaptations limited only by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power washing machine, an adjustable and removable spray nozzle assembly comprising a pipe with a large hole therein, a C-shaped clamp on said pipe, one arm of said clamp having a cylindrically curved concave surface seating against the surface of the pipe adjacent to said hoie, said cylindrically curved arm being wider than said large hole and covering said large hole, said cylindrically curved arm having a smaller hole therein communicating with said larger hole and forming an orifice for directing the spray from said assembly, the other arm of said clamp having tightening screw means for clamping against the side of said pipe opposite said larger hole for holding said cylindrically curved surface against the surface of the pipe adjacent to said larger hole, and spray directing means supported on said clamp approximately in alignment with said smaller hole, whereby the angle of the axis of said orifice is adjustable about the axis of the pipe, whereby said spray nozzle assembly is readily adapted to be adjusted in position and to be installed on or to be removed from the pipe.

2. In a power washing machine, an adjustable spray nozzle assembly comprising a pipe adapted to have liquid fed thereto, a large opening in the wall of said pipe, a C-shaped clamp on said pipe having two arms on opposite sides of the axis of the pipe, one of said arms having a cylindrically curved concave surface seating against the surface of the pipe with a small orifice centrally disposed therein, and communicating with said opening, the other arm of said clamp having a tightening screw threaded therethrough and bearing against the side of the pipe opposite to said opening, said clamp having a spray director secured thereto in alignment with said orifice for forming the liquid into a diverging spray, whereby the adjustable spray nozzle assembly is readily installed and the direction of the spray is adjustable by turning said clamp about the axis of said pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,192 Lavender Mar. 28, 1916 1,652,599 Ayers Dec. 13, 1927 1,754,929 Atticks et al Apr. 15, 1930 2,557,147 Schatzman June 19, 1951 2,595,702 Prevost May 6, 1952 2,778,685 Umbricht Jan. 22, 1957 2,780,494 Keser Feb. 5, 1957 

